Luggage construction



p 1958 w. H. ARLlTT, JR 2,854,105

I LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTION w/ 5 2 4 W19 r22 2 r. 9?, I by Z ,J 90 Z lOG lOZ

ATTORNEY5 INVENI" OR United States Patent Q LUGGAGE CONSTRUCTHON William H. Airlift, .lr., San Antonio, Tex.

Application August 26, 1955, Serial No. 530,772

6 Claims. (Cl. 19054) This invention relates to improvements in luggage, and more specifically, the invention pertains to a suitcase which is constructed Without using the conventional reinforcement frame.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide means for securing together the component elements of a suitcase without utilizing a reinforcing frame whereby the wegiht of the luggage is materially decreased.

Another object of this invention is to provide a luggage device which is constructed from reinforced sheet material and wherein stitching means are employed to achieve the necessary rigidity between the connected component parts of the article.

A further object of this invention is to provide an article of luggage which is constructed from a light weight treated fibrous or other suitable material having an exteriorly stamped or otherwise embossed ornamental design and wherein non-rigid means are employed for conmeeting the top, bottom, side and end walls of the article together to form a substantially rigid article when the component parts thereof are in their related assembled positions.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an article of luggage with interior reinforcing strips and combined exterior trim strips which impart greater rigidity to the luggage.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an article of luggage wherein the top, bottom, side and end walls are connected together by stitching together with a combined integrally formed inner reinforcing strip and exterior trim strip, the stitching being completely concealed by the reinforcing member.

This invention proposes, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a suitcase which is non-complex in construction and assembly, and which may be economically manufactured.

Other and further objects of the present invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a suitcase or other similar luggage constructed in accordance with the present invention, the stitching connection between the component parts thereof being enlarged.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the vertical plane of line 22 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view illustrating the mode of stitchin Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of a modification of this invention and illustrating the application :of the combined reinforcing and trim strip to an article of luggage at the bottom thereof.

Figure 5 an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-sectional View illustrating the application of the combined reinforcing and trim strip shown in Figure 4 to the top or closure member for an article of luggage.

Figure 6 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the combined reinforcing and trim strip illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of a closure member for an article of luggage, constructed with a modified form of the combined reinforcing and trim strip.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the combined reinforcing and trim strip illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-sectional view of a luggage compartment for an article of luggage, constructed in accordance with a still further embodiment of this invention.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, reference numeral it} designates, in generfl, luggage or other similar type of article constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. As illustrated therein the luggage or suitcase lfi comprises a substantially rectangular main body portion 12 formed of a single strip of reinforced fibrous or other suitable material, the strip being bent at substantially right angles to form a pair of opposed side walls l4, l6 and a pair of opposed end walls 18, it}. The adjacent free ends of the strip or body portion 12 are secured together at 22 by any conventional means in this art.

The bottom wall 24 is substantially rectangular in configuration and is substantially flush against the lower ends of the side and end walls 14, 16 and 13, 2%, respectively. As seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, marginal edges of the bottom wall 24 abut against adjacent portions of the side and end walls 14, 16 and 18, 2%, respectively.

The corners so formed by the junction of the bottom wall with the side and end walls are overlapped by a substantially L-shaped trim strip 26 having the leg portion 28 thereof superposed on the lower peripheral ends of the side and end walls of the suitcase ll), while the foot portion 30 thereof overlaps the lower end of the side and end walls and the adjacent marginal edges of the bottom wall 24.

The above described component parts of the suitcase 10 are secured together rigidly by means of the French type stitching designated at 32. As is seen in Figures l and 2 of the drawing, the stitching 32 extends diagonally across the inner corners formed by the junction of the bottom wall 24 with the side and end Walls l4, l6 and 18, 2d at an angle of substantially 45 with respect thereto. The resulting structure will be found to possess extreme rigidity and to offer high resistance to forces which may be exerted thereon tending to effect a defama t-ion thereof.

The closure member for the suitcase ll) comprises a main body portion 34 identically constructed as the main body portion 12 described above, the body portion 34 being formed of a continuous strip of substantially rigid fibrous or other suitable material 36 bent to form opposed pairs of side walls 38 and end walls .9 having the upper ends thereof secured to a top wall "i2 by means of the French type stitches 44. As before, prior to the stitching operation, the trim strip 4-6 is applied to the upper marginal ends of the side and end walls 3? and it), respectively, the trim strip 46 overlapping the marginal ends and sides of the top wall 42 in the manner described above.

One of the side walls 38 of the main body portion 34 is hingedly connected at 2-8 and St? to the upper end of the side wall 14 of the main body portion 12.

The luggage may be completed, if desired, by the addition thereto of conventional hardware and a handle memher.

In Figure 4 of the drawing a modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 3 has been shown.

3 In this modification of the invention the suitcase 60 includes side walls 62, end walls 64, and a bottom wall 66 arranged adjacent thereto. The bottom wall 66 is substantially rectangular in configuration and is separated from contact with the adjacent edges of the side and end walls by a combined reinforcing and inner trim strip 68 formed of rubber :or other suitable plastic material.

An outer trim strip 70 is engaged over'the outer corner between the bottom Wall 66 and the side and end 'walls 62, 64, respectively. The outer trim strip 70 may be formed of material similar to the combined reinforcing and inner strip 68 or of other suitable material.

The reinforcing and inner trim strip 68 includes a'stem 72 engaged between the adjacent edges of the Walls 62, 64 and the bottom wall 66. A segmental body 74 is integrally formed with the stem 72 and is "arranged to fill the interior corners between the walls 62, 64 and the bottom wall 66. V

The side, end, and bottom walls 62, 64 and 66 respectively, together with the combined reinforcing and trim strip 68 and the outer trim strip 70, are fixedly secured together by means of a line of French type stitches 76, :of the kind to which reference has been made above, the stitches 76 extending at an angle of substantially 45 with respect'to the walls 62, 64 and 66 and pierce the outer and inner trim strips 70 and 68 respectively.

The combined reinforcing and inner trim strip 68 together with the outer trim strip 70 and the French type stitch 76 serves three purposes, namely, the utilization thereof lends exterior ornamentation and protection to the case, it results in the formation of a suitcase with rigidity and strength through the use of a mass of molded material at the point of the joinder of the side and end walls with the bottom wall in addition to the natural strength of the stitching, and finally, the binding is seen to conceal the stitches on the inside :of the suitcase.

Referring now to the modification illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 the suitcase 6011 includes end walls 62a, side walls 64a and a top wall 6611. A combined reinforcing and inner trim strip 68a is positioned between the top wall 66a and the side and end walls 62a, 6411 with an outer trim strip 7 a engaged over the outer corners thereof and integrally-formed with the outer end of a stem 72a extend ing between the side and end walls 62a, 64a and the top wall 66a. A segmental body 741i is integrally formed with the inner end of the stem 72a and the trim strip 70a and segmental body 74a are secured in place by a line of diagonally extending French stitching 76a in the same manner as described in Figure 4. The modification in Figures and 6 differs from the modification of Figure 4 only in that the outer trim strip 70a and the stem 72a are integral rather than separate as is the case in Figure 4.

Figures 7 and 8 pertain to a further embodiment of this invention. Reference numeral 90 designates, in general, a closure member for a suitcase or other similar type of article. In this embodiment, the combined reinforcing and trim strip 92 is again seen to have an inverted substantially T-shaped configuration including a crosshead 94 which is integrally formed with the inner end of a stem 96, the latter end of which terminates in a dovetail boss 98. As in the preceding embodiment, the stem 96 partitions the crosshead 94 longitudinally into a pair of crosshead sections 94A and 94B.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the crosshead section 94B and the adjacentside of the dovetail boss 98 overlap the marginal side and end edges of the top wall 100 with the edges thereof in abutting relation relative to one side of the stem 96. In a similar manner, the crosshead section 94B and the adjacent side of the dovetail member 98 overlap the upper edges of the side and end walls 102, 104, respectively, with the upper edges thereof engaging against the other side of the stem 96.

The top wall 100 together with the side and endwalls 102, 104 and the combined reinforcing and trim strip 92 4 are secured together by a line of stitches 106 which extend through the side and end Walls and the dovetail portion of the combined reinforcing and trim strip. The stitches 106 extend substantially at an angle of 45 with respect to the top, end and side walls, and are completelyconcealed by the dovetail portion 98.

It will be understood, of course, that While the combined reinforcing and trim strip' 92 illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, together with the side, end and top walls all pertain to structure for the closure member of the suitcase, the identical construction is utilized in forming the lower main body portion of the case although the bottom portion has not been illustrated.

Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of this invention, and While described above as being a luggage compartment for an article of luggage it will be understood that the closure member therefor is identically constructed, as in the previous modifications.

' The luggage compartment of Figure 9 is designated, in general, by reference numeral 110. In this embodiment the trim strip 112 and reinforcing member114 comprise separate elements. The luggage compartment 110 is formed of a continuous strip'of fibrous or other suitable materials and includes oppositely disposed pairs of side and end walls, 116and 118, respectively, the abutting ends of which are secured together by conventional means in the manner described in the firstrembodiment of. this invention- The marginal peripheral edges of the bottom wall 120 overlap the lower'ends of the side and end walls, 116 and 118, respectively. The trim strip 112 is formed of'any suitable material and H extends around the outer side of the luggage *compartment 110 and overlaps adjacent marginal edge portions of the side and end walls 116, and 118 at their junction with the bottom wall 120. An elongated length of rubber or other suitable flexible material having a quadrantshaped transverse configuration is designated at 114.- As is seen in Figure 9 the reinforcing strip 114 is positioned at the inner corner formed by the junction of the side and end walls, 116 and 118, respectively, with the bottom Wall 120, and these together with the trim strip 112 and reinforcing member 114 respectively are secured together by a line of stitching 124 which passes therethrough. As in theprevious cases, the stitches 124 are inclined at an acute angle of substantially45 with respect to the side, end and bottom walls 116,118 and 120. s r

What is claimed is: V 1. A suitcase comprising a main body portion including opposed pairs of side and end Walls, a closure member for one end of said main body portion, resilient meansinterposed between the adjacent ends of said side and end walls and the marginal edge portions of said closure member, flexible means extending peripherally around said adjacent ends of said side and end walls and the marginal edge portions of said closure member, said flexible means extending diagonally across the inner cortions thereof extending through said resilient means and being inclined at an angle of substantially 45 9 relative to. said side and end walls and said closure member, a lid for said main body portion of said suitcase," said lid comprising a pair of oppositely disposed side and end walls, a closure membersextending across one of the adjacent ends of said last named side and end walls, .resilient means interposed between said adjacent'endsof said last named side and end walls and the adjacent marginal edges of said last named closure member, and flexible means extending through said last named pairs of said side. and end walls and said last named closure member, said flexible means connecting said last named walls 1 and closure member in a rigid assembly, said flexible her with said last named side and end walls, said diagonally extending portions of said flexible means being inclined at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to said last mentioned side and end walls and said last named closure member.

2. A suitcase comprising a main body portion and a lid therefor, said main body portion comprising pairs of oppositely disposed side and end walls having a substantially rectangular configuration, a bottom wall extending across one of the adjacent ends of said side and end walls, a combined reinforcing and trim member, said combined reinforcing trim member having a T-shaped configuration including a crosshead integrally formed with one end of a stem, the other end of said stem terminating in a laterally offset segmental portion and said stem longitudinally dividing said crosshead into a pair of crosshead sections, said side and end walls having their respective said adjacent ends engaging against said stem and being enclosed between said segmental offset portion of said stern and one of said sections of said crosshead, said bottom wall having its respective sides and ends engaging against a portion of the other of said crosshead sections and being embraced between said stem and the remaining portion of said other of said crosshead sections, a plurality of substantially continuous stitches extending through said crosshead sections, said side and end walls, said bottom wall and said stem and said offset portion thereof, said stitches having portions thereof inclined diagonally across the inside corners formed by the junction of said side and end walls with said bottom wall with the angle of inclination relative thereof being substantially 45, said lid comprising pairs of oppositely disposed side and end walls and a top wall therefor, a substantially resilient member, said member having a T-shaped con figuration including a crosshead integrally connected with one end of a stem member, said last named stem member having a laterally ofiset segmental portion, said stern longitudinally dividing said crosshead into a pair of crosshead sections, said upper adjacent ends of said side and end walls being engaged against said stem and embraced between said segmental offset portion of said stem and one of said crosshead sections, said top wall engaging against a portion of the other of said crosshead sections and being embraced between said stem and the remaining portion of said other offset sections, a plurality of stitches extending diagonally across the inner corners of said lid formed by the junction of said side and end walls with said top wall, said stitches extending through said one end of the other crosshead sections, said side and end Walls and said top wall, and through said stem and its laterally offset segmental portion, and means hingedly connecting one of said side walls of said lid with one of said side walls of said main body portion.

3. A suitcase and a lid therefor each having identical construction and each comprising pairs of oppositely disposed side and end walls, a closure member for one of the adjacent ends of said side and end walls, reinforcing trim means comprising a substantially T-shaped member formed of resilient material, said T-shaped member including a crosshead integrally formed with one end of a stem, said stem terminating at its other end in a dovetail, said stem dividing said crosshead longitudinally into a pair of crosshead sections, said closure member having its respective ends and sides engaging against one side of said stem and embraced between one side of said dovetail and one of said crosshead sections, said side and end walls having one of their respective ends abutting against the other side of said stem and embraced between the other side of said dovetail and the other of said crosshead sections, and a plurality of continuous stitches extending through said crosshead sections, said side and end walls, said closure member and said dovetail sections, said stitches having portions thereof extending diagonally across the inside corners of said lid and said main body portion formed at the junction of said closure member with their respective side and end walls, said stitches being inclined at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to their respective associated side and end walls and said closure member.

4. A suitcase having identically constructed luggage compartment and closure member therefor, said luggage compartment and said closure member each comprising a strip of flexible rigid material bent to form a substantially rectangular frame including oppositely disposed pairs of side and end walls and a pair of oppositely disposed open ends, a substantially rectangular closure wall for one of said open ends, said closure wall overlapping the ends of said walls adjacent said one open end, a reinforcing member formed of flexible material disposed at the inner corners formed by the junction of said side and end walls with said closure wall, said reinforcing member having a quadrant-shaped cross-sectional configuration, a trim strip extending around the marginal edges at the exterior of the corners formed by the junction of said side and end walls with said closure wall, and a substantially continuous line of stitches extending through said side and end walls, said closure wall and said reinforcing strip, said line of stitches being inclined at an angle of substantially 45 with respect to said walls.

5. In luggage of the type having a body and a lid hingedly attached to said body with said body having a bottom wall and a right angularly related circumferential side wall and with said lid having a top wall and a right angularly related circumferential side wall, a reinforcing, finishing sealing and connecting means for said walls and their respective top and bottom Walls comprising, an elongated strip having a body portion adapted to fit into corners formed by said side walls and their respective top and bottom walls on the inside of said luggage to conceal and protect the joint therebetween, an extension integrally formed with said body portion and extending between the adjacent edges of said side walls and their respective top and bottom walls, a trim strip integrally connected to said extension in spaced relation to said body portion, said trim strip having portions extending over said side wall and portions extending over said adjacent respective top and bottom walls, stitching extending through said trim strip, said side walls, said adjacent respective top and bottom walls and said body portion at an angle of approximately 45 to said top and bottom walls.

6. A corner reinforcing and connecting means for luggage having corners formed from right angularly related walls comprising, a strip having a body portion engaging the inner contours of said corner, a neck portion integrally joined with said body portion and engaging between adjacent opposed edges of said walls, an outer finishing portion integrally formed with said neck portion and overlying the outer contours of said corner, and stitching extending diagonally across said corner through said finishing portion, said walls and said body portion, securing said walls together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 578,545 Crouch Mar. 9, 1897 2,610,715 Plotkin Sept. 16, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 2,922 Germany Apr. 7, 1878 382,130 Great Britain Oct. 20, 1932 585,084 France Dec. 2, 1924 

